Flip vs. Toss — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 15, 2024
Flip involves rotating an object around an axis, typically a coin or pancake, while a toss generally involves throwing an object lightly or casually into the air.
Difference Between Flip and Toss
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Key Differences
A flip usually refers to the action of turning something over or rotating it around an axis, often used in the context of flipping a coin to decide between two options. On the other hand, a toss is more about throwing something lightly or carelessly, often used to describe throwing a ball or a salad.
Flipping often involves a precise movement with the fingers, such as flipping a coin into the air to land on one side or the other. Whereas, tossing something like a ball involves a more relaxed and less precise action, often using the whole arm.
When you flip something, you generally have control over how it spins and it usually rotates several times. In contrast, a toss does not necessarily involve multiple rotations and can be more about the trajectory than rotation.
In many games and sports, the term "flip" is used to determine starting conditions, such as flipping a coin in football. Meanwhile, "toss" might refer to the act of throwing a dice or a frisbee, which are part of the game play itself.
Flips are often executed in a confined or controlled environment, as in gymnastics or when flipping pancakes in a pan. On the other hand, tossing often implies a freer, more open space usage, like tossing a caber in a field.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Turning something over or rotating
Throwing something lightly or casually
Usage
Flipping a coin, pancake
Tossing a ball, salad
Movement
Precise rotation around an axis
Casual throw with varying trajectory
Control
Controlled spin
Less control, more about direction
Environment
Confined or controlled
Open and free
Compare with Definitions
Flip
To turn over quickly.
He flipped the burger with a spatula.
Toss
To throw or send from one to another.
They tossed the paper around the classroom.
Flip
To cause to turn or rotate end over end.
She flipped the coin to decide.
Toss
To mix by throwing ingredients gently.
He tossed the salad with vinaigrette.
Flip
A somersault or acrobatic spring.
He performed a back flip off the diving board.
Toss
To throw something carelessly.
He tossed his jacket on the sofa.
Flip
A sudden or quick movement.
With a flip of his wrist, the card trick was done.
Toss
To throw lightly or casually.
She tossed the ball to her friend.
Flip
To rotate about an axis.
The gymnast flipped in the air.
Toss
A light throw or movement.
With a toss of her head, she dismissed the idea.
Flip
To throw or toss with a light brisk motion
Flipped the ball to the pitcher.
Toss
To throw lightly or casually or with a sudden jerk
Tossed the shirt on the floor.
Flip
To toss in the air, imparting a spin
Flip a coin.
Toss
To throw or propel upward
The bull tossed him over the fence.
Flip
To cause to turn over or around, especially with a light quick motion
Flip over a card.
Flipped the pancake with a spatula.
Toss
To throw or propel to the ground
The horse tossed its rider.
Flip
To turn through (papers, for example); leaf
Flipped the pages of the report.
Toss
To cause to move from side to side or up and down
Boats that were tossed by the storm.
Flip
To strike quickly or lightly; flick
Flipped me on the shoulder with his finger.
Toss
To move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion.
Flip
To move or act on with a quick motion
Flip a switch.
Flipped open her briefcase.
Toss
To mix (food) lightly so as to cover with dressing or sauce
Toss a salad.
Flip
To change or reverse (one's position or attitude).
Toss
To discuss informally; bandy
Tossed the idea around.
Flip
To buy and resell (a house, for example) in a short period of time for a profit.
Toss
To flip (coins) in order to decide an issue.
Flip
To turn over from one side to another or end over end
The canoe flipped over.
Toss
To flip coins with
I'll toss you to see who goes first.
Flip
To turn a somersault, especially in the air.
Toss
To put in a given position, condition, or situation
Tossed the suspect in jail.
Flip
To move up and down in twists and turns
Fish flipping about in the net.
Toss
To throw away; discard
I tossed the newspaper after reading it.
Flip
To move quickly and lightly; snap
The lid flipped open.
Toss
To disqualify or eject
The starter was tossed for throwing illegal pitches.
Flip
To leaf; browse
Flipped through the catalogue.
Toss
To be thrown here and there; be flung to and fro or up and down
The canoe tossed about on the waves.
Flip
To change one's mind, especially on a political position.
Toss
To move about restlessly; twist and turn
Toss in one's sleep.
Flip
To go crazy.
Toss
To flip a coin to decide an issue.
Flip
To react strongly and especially enthusiastically
I flipped over the new car.
Toss
The act of tossing something
The toss of a hat.
Flip
A flick or tap.
Toss
The distance that something is or can be tossed.
Flip
A short, quick movement
A flip of the wrist.
Toss
An abrupt upward movement, as of the head.
Flip
A somersault.
Toss
A flipping of a coin to decide an issue
The home team won the toss and elected to receive.
Flip
(Informal) A reversal; a flipflop.
Toss
A throw, a lob, of a ball etc., with an initial upward direction, particularly with a lack of care.
Flip
A mixed drink made with any of various alcoholic beverages and often including beaten eggs.
Toss
The coin toss before a cricket match in order to decide who bats first, or before a football match in order to decide the direction of play.
Flip
Marked by casual disrespect; impertinent
A flip answer to a serious question.
Toss
A haughty throwing up of the head.
Flip
A maneuver which rotates an object end over end.
We'll decide this on a flip of a coin.
The diver did a couple of flips before landing in the pool.
Toss
(British slang) A jot, in the phrase 'give a toss'.
I couldn't give a toss about her.
Flip
A complete change of direction, decision, movement etc.
Toss
(British slang) A state of agitation; commotion.
Flip
(archaic) A fillip or light blow.
Toss
Concern or consideration.
I don't give a toss.
Flip
(dated) A whit or jot; the tiniest amount.
I don't care a flip for what he says.
Toss
A measure of sprats.
Flip
A slingshot.
Toss
To throw with an initial upward direction.
Toss it over here!
Flip
A hairstyle popular among boys in the 1960s–70s and 2000s–10s, in which the hair goes halfway down the ears, at which point it sticks out
Justin Bieber and Zac Efron are among the celebrities who wore a flip.
Toss
To lift with a sudden or violent motion.
To toss the head
Flip
(informal) The purchase of an asset (usually a house) which is then improved and sold quickly for profit.
Toss
To agitate; to make restless.
Flip
The tendency of a gun's barrel to jerk about at the moment of firing.
Toss
To subject to trials; to harass.
Flip
A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron (a "flip dog").
Toss
To flip a coin, to decide a point of contention.
We should toss for it.
I'll toss you for it.
Flip
(transitive) To throw so as to turn over.
You need to flip the pancake onto the other side.
Toss
To discard; to throw away.
I don't need it any more; you can just toss it.
Flip
(transitive) To put into a quick revolving motion through a snap of the thumb and index finger.
If you can't decide which option to go for, flip a coin.
Toss
To stir or mix (a salad).
To toss a salad; a tossed salad.
Flip
To win a state (or county) won by another party in the preceding elections.
Wisconsin had been Democratic for decades, but the Republicans flipped it in 2016.
Toss
(British slang) To masturbate
Flip
To turn state's evidence; to agree to testify against one's co-conspirators in exchange for concessions from prosecutors.
The mafioso flipped on his superiors to get a lighter sentence.
Toss
To search (a room or a cell), sometimes leaving visible disorder, as for valuables or evidence of a crime.
Flip
To induce someone to turn state's evidence; to get someone to agree to testify against their co-conspirators in exchange for concessions.
The district attorney was able to strengthen his case against the bank robber by flipping the getaway driver.
Toss
(intransitive) To roll and tumble; to be in violent commotion.
Tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep
Flip
To go berserk or crazy.
I'd flip if anyone broke my phone.
Toss
(intransitive) To be tossed, as a fleet on the ocean, or as a ship in heavy seas.
Flip
To buy an asset (usually a house), improve it and sell it quickly for profit.
Toss
(obsolete) To keep in play; to tumble over.
Flip
To refinance (a loan), accruing additional fees.
Toss
(rowing) To peak (the oars), to lift them from the rowlocks and hold them perpendicularly, the handle resting on the bottom of the boat.
Flip
To invert a bit (binary digit), changing it from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0.
Toss
(British slang) To drink in large draughts; to gulp.
Flip
To hand over or pass along.
Toss
To vomit.
Flip
To switch to another task, etc.
Toss
To throw with the hand; especially, to throw with the palm of the hand upward, or to throw upward; as, to toss a ball.
Flip
Having the quality of playfulness, or lacking seriousness of purpose.
I hate to be flip, but perhaps we could steal a Christmas tree.
Toss
To lift or throw up with a sudden or violent motion; as, to toss the head.
He tossed his arm aloft, and proudly told me,He would not stay.
Flip
Sarcastic.
Toss
To cause to rise and fall; as, a ship tossed on the waves in a storm.
We being exceedingly tossed with a tempest.
Flip
(informal) Disrespectful, flippant.
Don't get flip with me or I'll knock you into next Tuesday!
Toss
To agitate; to make restless.
Calm region once,And full of peace, now tossed and turbulent.
Flip
A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron.
Toss
Hence, to try; to harass.
Whom devils fly, thus is he tossed of men.
Flip
To toss (an object) into the air so as make it turn over one or more times; to fillip; as, to flip up a cent.
As when your little onesDo 'twixt their fingers flip their cherry stones.
Toss
To keep in play; to tumble over; as, to spend four years in tossing the rules of grammar.
Flip
To turn (a flat object) over with a quick motion; as, to flip a card over; to flip a pancake.
Toss
To roll and tumble; to be in violent commotion; to write; to fling.
To toss and fling, and to be restless, only frets and enrages our pain.
Flip
To cause (a person) to turn against former colleagues, such as to become a witness for the state, in a criminal prosecution in which the person is a defendant.
Toss
To be tossed, as a fleet on the ocean.
Flip
To resell (an asset) rapidly to make a quick profit.
Toss
A throwing upward, or with a jerk; the act of tossing; as, the toss of a ball.
Flip
To become insane or irrational; - often used with out; as, seeing her mother killed made the girl flip out.
Toss
A throwing up of the head; a particular manner of raising the head with a jerk.
Flip
An acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return
Toss
The act of flipping a coin
Flip
Hot or cold alcoholic mixed drink containing a beaten egg
Toss
(sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team;
The pass was fumbled
Flip
The act of flipping a coin
Toss
An abrupt movement;
A toss of his head
Flip
A dive in which the diver somersaults before entering the water
Toss
Throw or toss with a light motion;
Flip me the beachball
Toss me newspaper
Flip
(sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team;
The pass was fumbled
Toss
Lightly throw to see which side comes up;
I don't know what to do--I may as well flip a coin!
Flip
Lightly throw to see which side comes up;
I don't know what to do--I may as well flip a coin!
Toss
Throw carelessly;
Chuck the ball
Flip
Cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation;
Switch on the light
Throw the lever
Toss
Move or stir about violently;
The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed
Flip
Look through a book or other written material;
He thumbed through the report
She leafed through the volume
Toss
Throw or cast away;
Put away your worries
Flip
Toss with a sharp movement so as to cause to turn over in the air
Toss
Agitate;
Toss the salad
Flip
Cause to move with a flick;
He flicked his Bic
Flip
Throw or toss with a light motion;
Flip me the beachball
Toss me newspaper
Flip
Move with a flick or light motion
Flip
Turn upside down, or throw so as to reverse;
Flip over the pork chop
Turn over the pancakes
Flip
Go mad, go crazy;
He flipped when he heard that he was being laid off
Flip
Reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
Flip
Marked by casual disrespect;
A flip answer to serious question
The student was kept in for impudent behavior
Common Curiosities
What is a common scenario for using flip?
Flipping is commonly used in decisions, like flipping a coin.
Is one more precise than the other?
Flipping is generally more precise, involving specific rotations, while tossing is more about general direction and force.
What is a common scenario for using toss?
Tossing is often used in games, like tossing a ball.
Can flip and toss be used interchangeably in cooking?
In cooking, flip refers to turning over, like a pancake, whereas toss refers to mixing ingredients, like a salad.
Can both actions be applied to the same object?
Yes, objects like coins or pancakes can be both flipped and tossed, depending on the desired outcome.
What is the physical difference in action between flipping and tossing?
Flipping involves a controlled, rotational movement, often with the fingers, while tossing is a more relaxed action, using the arm.
Are flip and toss used in sports?
Yes, both terms are used in sports but in different contexts; flipping a coin for decisions, and tossing a ball in games.
Which is more likely to be used in a casual setting?
Tossing is more casual, often seen in playful or informal settings.
Which action requires more space?
Tossing generally requires more space than flipping, as it often involves broader movements.
What skills are needed for flipping vs. tossing?
Flipping requires precise timing and control, while tossing needs good aim and a sense of direction.
How do the outcomes differ between flipping and tossing?
Flipping usually results in multiple rotations, whereas tossing can result in varied trajectories without specific rotations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
